Amy Hooker-Kidd founded Maven Communications in 1999. She began her career providing public relations services for small to medium-sized companies, particularly in the tech space, and eventually expanded into marketing consulting. Over the years, Amy discovered her passion for writing and shifted her focus towards creating content such as press releases, articles, web copy, and blog posts. She found more satisfaction in the straightforward nature of freelance writing compared to the back-and-forth process of PR.
Amy’s public relations and marketing background gives her a unique perspective on writing. She states, “It comes naturally to me. It’s something I really enjoy. And I feel like it adds value to my clients — having a PR and marketing background means I understand the importance of highlighting differentiators and addressing customer pain points.”
Amy primarily works with tech clients on nDash’s platform, creating a variety of content such as blog posts, white papers, and case studies.
How nDash Became Part of Amy’s Freelance Writer Journey
Amy had evaluated different content platforms, but many didn’t align with her business goals. “I could tell by the profiles, rates, and project requests that they were a race to the bottom. And I was not interested in competing against people on how cheaply I could do the work. That’s not the value that I bring,” she explains.
She continues, “When I found nDash, I read through some of the blog posts and looked up the founders to see who was behind it. And the whole situation just felt a little bit different.”
Upon discovering nDash, Amy signed up, created a portfolio, and reached out to Michael, one of the founders. She expressed her appreciation for the platform, saying, “I found the platform, and I’m really enjoying it,” and he replied almost immediately. This positive interaction with Michael further solidified her decision to use nDash as a platform for her writing work.
Challenges Finding New Clients and Streamlining Billing Tasks
One of Amy’s challenges was finding new sources of potential clients during the pandemic. She explained, “I had some clients that pulled back their budgets because things were getting a little bit uncertain. And I thought it might be time to rattle the cages a little bit and see what’s out there.” However, she wanted to avoid competing on price with other writers on content platforms.
Another challenge that Amy faced was the administrative tasks of billing and invoicing. She admitted, “There’s a good reason I’m not an accountant. I don’t like it – numbers are not my thing.”
nDash alleviated some of those potential headaches by streamlining and simplifying the billing process. Amy appreciates that she can concentrate on writing, knowing that nDash has already vetted the client and that they will pay in a reasonable amount of time.
Empowering Freelance Writers with Client Connections, Streamlined Billing, and Success Strategies
nDash offers many benefits for freelance writers like Amy, addressing various pain points and enhancing her professional experience. By providing access to potential clients, streamlining the billing process, establishing clear guidelines for success, and offering a diverse range of assignments and clients, nDash positions itself as a platform that caters to serious writers and clients who value high-quality work.
“nDash makes my professional life easier and more fulfilling. It handles a lot of the administrative and business development tasks and lets me concentrate on what I love doing, which is writing,” she said.
Here are some specific benefits Amy finds working with nDash:
- Expanding her client base: Amy was able to reach out to potential clients easily.
- Streamlined billing process: Amy appreciates the simplified billing system, which saves her hours every month.
- Setting writers up for success: nDash helps clients provide clear expectations and guidelines for writers.
- Variety of clients and assignments: Amy works primarily with tech clients on a range of content types, from case studies and blog posts to email sequences and presentations.
Amy advises new freelancers on the platform to invest time in building a solid portfolio and familiarize themselves with the platform and available brands.
Unlocking Freelance Success: How nDash Empowers Writers with Clarity, Diversity, and Growth Opportunities
nDash brings value to Amy’s freelance writing business by setting her up for client success. It provides clear guidelines and expectations from clients, which helps her deliver quality work efficiently. Amy appreciates nDash’s approach, enabling her to quote fixed prices confidently without worrying about endless rounds of edits or out-of-scope requests.
She says, “You’re making them [clients] do some of that thinking upfront, as they’re putting together the assignment,” and adds that “nDash has done a great job of setting everybody up for success.”
Amy primarily works with tech clients on the platform and enjoys the variety of assignments she gets, such as case studies, blog posts, slide decks, presentations, and email sequences. The diversity of work allows her to constantly learn and be challenged while applying her skills in storytelling and highlighting the value of products or businesses for the target audience.
Regarding the variety of brands and opportunities, Amy enjoys working on different types of content for different reasons. She likes white papers and ebooks for their in-depth exploration of subjects, while she appreciates the challenge of telling a compelling story in a limited word count for blog posts and email sequences. This variety keeps her engaged and allows her to grow as a freelance writer.
Amy’s Insider Tips on Thriving with nDash
As a successful freelance writer, Amy offers valuable advice to those in the field, particularly when it comes to choosing the right platform. She highlights the importance of using nDash, stating, “If you’re a serious and driven [writer], nDash is where you want to be.” She emphasizes that content mills are not worth a veteran writer’s time or effort, as they don’t provide the same level of quality or value as nDash does. “nDash is the only platform that I’ve seen that is for serious writers and serious clients that value good writing,” she explains.
Furthermore, Amy encourages freelance writers to invest time in creating a solid portfolio and familiarizing themselves with the platform. She suggests spending time “pulling your clips in” and learning about the platform, its brands, and the pitches they’re looking for. By browsing through brand profiles, writers can identify potential clients they may want to reach out to. Amy concludes by reiterating the worth of nDash for freelance writers, stating that “it is a platform that is worth a good freelance writer’s time.”